Igor Plotnitsky, the leader of Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine's eastern region of Luhansk, is reportedly in stable condition following an August 6 assassination attempt.

The Interfax news agency on August 7 quoted an anonymous source at the hospital where Plotnitsky is being treated as saying that his condition is stable, and that there had been no complications overnight.

Plotnitsky, the head of a group that calls itself the Luhansk People's Republic, was wounded "as a result of a powerful explosion that occurred near his car" in Luhansk, the official separatists' news agency reported on August 6.

Separatists have blamed saboteurs from Ukraine's security service for the attack. Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, a spokesman for Ukraine's operation in the east, has said the Ukrainian side was not involved.

Several other people who suffered injuries in the blast were also reportedly being treated.

Fighting between Ukrainian government forces and Russia-backed separatists in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk has killed more than 9,500 people since April 2014.